Musical wind instrument key stop



June 29,1965 I LEBLANC 3,191,482

MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENT KEY STOP Filed Oct. 20, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet i flmfeb/ano June 29, 1965 LEBLANC 3,191,482

MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENT KEY STOP Filed 001;. 20. 1964 United States Patent 3,191,482 MUSICAL WlND INSTRUMENT KEY STOP Leon Leblanc, 70 Rue des Rigoles, Paris, France Filed Oct. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 405,104 11 Claims. (Cl. 84-382) This invention relates to a device forming an improved key stop in musical wind instruments, particularly wood winds.

As is well known, various musical instruments, particularly wood winds, are of a fixed physical length, and have the effective length of the vibrating air column changed by opening and closing various holes in the body of the instrument. In some instances closure of the holes is efiected directly by the finger tips. In other instances, keys and closure members may be provided. Often, the closure members are in normally closed position, and a key is depressed to raise the hole closure member, and thus to open the hole. The distance which the key is to be depressed to effect opening of the hole is limited by some sort of stop means to prevent more movement than is necessary, and thereby to promote quickness of action and to avoid possible damage to biasing springs.

It is an object of this invention to provide improved stop means for a musical wind instrument key. More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a stop means for musical wind instrument keys which acts directly on the hole closing part of the key, rather than on the finger piece thereof.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a stop mechanism or device for musical wind instrument keys which is of simpler and more rugged construction than those in the prior art.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent with regard to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view through the body of a musical wind instrument such as a clarinet showing one type of key stop employed by the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a similar figure showing another type of key stop in the prior art;

FIG. 3 is one embodiment of the present invention in a similar figure;

FIG. 4 again is a similar view in cross-section illustrating yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a musical wind instrument corresponding to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is another cross-sectional view yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan View corresponding to FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is another cross-sectional view showing a further modification of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view corresponding to FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is another similar cross-sectional view showing yet another modification of the invention; and

FIG. 11 is another fragmentary plan View corresponding to the View of FIG. 10. V

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a musical wind instrument body 20, for example of a clarinet, having a tone hole 22. A hinge rod 24 is pivoted between posts 26 and pivotally carries a key 28 having an arm 30 with an elbow 32 supporting a key cup 34 having the usual hole closure member or pad 36 therein. The opposite end of the key also is elbowed at 38 to provide a spatula or finger piece 40. The key is normally biased to hole closing position by a spring, not shown. A curved wire 42 underlies the spatula and is secured to mounting parts 44 mounted on the body of the instrument.

In order to cause the tone corresponding to the note 22 to play, the musician depresses the spatula or finger piece 4t! with his finger until the spatula engages the wire 42. As will be obvious, this raises the pad or hole closure member 36. The wire 42 conventionally is soldered in place, and is subject to breaking loose, and also to bending. Furthermore, the stop is adjacent the finger, rather than adjacent the pad 36, which is a more critical area.

A similar construction is shown in FIG. 2, also of a conventional nature, wherein similar numerals are used with the addition of the sufiix a to identify similar parts, thereby avoiding prolixity and repetition of description. The essential difference in FIG. 2 is that the stop member 42a comprises a short length of rod extending out substantially radially from the body 26a of the instrument, and being engageable by the spatula or finger piece 46a of the key.

Reference should now be had to FIG. 3 for an understanding of one form of the invention. Many of the parts remain the same as heretofore, and similar numerals are utilized with the addition of the sufiix b. Repetition of description thereby is avoided. In the present instance, it will be observed that the body of the clarinet is pro vided with a hole 46 of rather large diameter and extending radially in from the outside, but terminating short of the internal bore. A stop rod 48 is fixed to the underside of the key arm and normally is spaced from the walls of the hole 46. When the spatula b is depressed to raise the key cup 34b and closure pad 36b, the rod d8 moves with the key in a generally counterclockwise movement to the right, whereupon the side of the rod 48 engages the side of the hole at 50, thereby limiting opening of the tone hole. As will be appreciated, the stop member or rod 48 is relatively close to the key cup 341; and closure pad 36b, whereby there is less opportunity for misadjustment between the stop and the closure member.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5 the parts again are similar, and again similar numerals are utilized, this time with 'the addition of the sufiix c, to identify similar parts. In this instance, the stop rod or member 48c extends from beneath the arm 36c toward the body 200 but is terminated short thereof in an enlarged head 52. A stop member 54 is provided with an intermediate fiange 56 and a threaded end 58 which is screwed into the body of the instrument 20c, being received in an appropriate hole with the stop member or rod 54 extending substantially radially out from the body of the instrument. Again, the stopping structure is located relatively close to the hole closure member 360, whereby to avoid lost motion, etc.

- A further embodiment of the invention will be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 wherein similar part again are identified by similar numerals, this time with the addition of the suffix d. The stop member on the key arm extends radially in at 48d as heretofore. The fixed stop member comprises a small base plate 66 secured to the instrument body 20d by means of a pair of small screw 61 at either end of the base plate, the base plate being elongated in the longitudinal direction of the body. The base plate is provided with an upstanding lug 62 providing a stop surface 64 substantially parallel to the movable stop member 48d, and with a tapered back surface 66. The stopping operation is the same as set forth heretofore, and It will be apparent that the movable stop member again is quite close to the hole closure member.

Another embodiment of the invention similar to that just described is to be found in FIGS. 8 and 9. The fixed stop member is generally similar to that of FIGS. 6 and 7, as indicated at 542, but differs therefrom in that the upstanding lug 62s is at one end of the base plate, rather than in the center thereof. On the other hand, the 1novable stop member 43c has been moved off of the arm 30d, and is provided with a collar 68 fitting on and secured to, preferably as by soldering, the sleeve 70 pivoted on the hinge rod Me and to which the key arm 30a and finger piece 40c and elbow 38a are soldered. The stopping action thus is again produced at a location relatively close to the hole closure member, rather than on the finger piece as in the prior art.

In the final embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. and 11, the movable stop member 48 remains on the sleeve 70 as in the last embodiment. Rather than having a base member which is secured to the body of the instrument by separate screws, the base member 60 in this instance is elongated and is recessed so as to be flush with the body, and is held in place by the posts 26f which have screw shanks extending through the base plate 60 and threaded into the body of the instrument. Such mounting of posts is common and well known.

Several embodiments of the present invention have now been described. The cork underlay sometimes used on spatula keys as a stop against the wood body of the clarinet has been completely eliminated, thus avoiding sticking at this location. The bottom shape of the spatula need not be altered in any way, but may simply remain fiat. The stopping action is closer to the point at which the tone hole is open, thereby being more direct and positive. The movable stop member is functionally one piece with the arm carrying the key cup, being mounted or soldered directly on this arm or at least on the pivot sleeve of the arm.

- The inventionhas been illustrated in connection with the me flat or la flat grave key of a clarinet, but it will be understood that the invention has applicability to other keys of clarinets and other musical wind instruments.

It will be noted in each instance that the movable stop member moves laterally or sidewise into engagement with the fixed stop.

It will be understood that the specific examples of the invention as shown and described herein are for illustrative purposes only. Various change in structure will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art, and will be understood as forming a part of the present invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A key construction for a musical wind instrument of the type having a. hollow body with a substantially radially opening tone hole therein, comprising a key including a finger piece, an arm interconnected with said finger piece and extending therefrom, a key cup on said arm, and a tone hole closure member carried by said key cup, means pivotally mounting said key on said body intermediate said arm and said finger piece, said arm, key cup and tone hole closure member rising to hole opening position upon depression of said finger piece towards said body, a movable stop member on said key extending inwardly therefrom toward said body and having a lateral stopping surface, said movable stop member being movable laterally of itself in the direction of said stop surface upon depression of said key finger piece, and means on said body forming a fixed stop engageable by said lateral stop surface of said movable stop member to limit pivotal movement of said key.

2. A key construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means forming the fixed stop comprises a hole in said instrument body, said movable stop member extending into said hole.

3. A key construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fixed stop comprises a member projecting outwardly from said body and having a lateral fixed stop surface engageab'le by the lateral stopping surface of said movable stop member.

4. A key construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein said fixed stop member is set into said body and extends therefrom.

5. A key construction as set forth in claim 4 wherein the fixed stop member is screwed into said body.

6. A key construction as set forth in claim 3 and further including a base plate secured to said instrument body beneath said key, said fixed stop projection being on said base plate.

7. A key construction for a musical wind instrument of the type having a hollow body with a substantially radially opening tone hole therein, comprising a key having a finger piece and an operating portion, said operating portion comprising a pivot member fixed to said finger piece adjacent one limit thereof, an arm extending from said pivot piece, a key cup on said arm, and a tone hole closure member carried by said key cup, means on said body pivotally mounting said pivot member, said arm, key cup and tone hole closure member rising to hole opening position upon depression of said finger piece toward said body, a movable stop member on said'key operating portion extending toward said body, and means on said body forming a fixed stop engageable by said movable stop member to limit pivotal movement of said key.

8. A key construction as set forth in claim 7 wherein said movable stop member has a lateral stopping surface and said movable stop member is movable laterally of itself in the direction of said lateral stopping surface.

9. A key construction as set forth in claim 7 wherein said movable stop member is mounted on said key arm.

10. A key construction as set forth in claim 7 wherein said movable stop member is mounted on said key pivot member.

11. A key construction for a musical wind instrument of the type having a hollow body with a substantially radially opening tone hole therein, comprising a key including a pivot sleeve, a key finger piece extending later ally from said sleeve, an arm extending laterally from said sleeve, a key cup on said arm, and a tone hole closure member carried by said key cup, said arm, cup, and tone hole closure member rising to hole opening position upon depression of said finger piece toward said body, a movable stop member on said sleeve having a lateral stopping surface and movable laterally of itself in the direction of said surface upon depression of said key finger piece, means pivotally mounting said key and including a pair of posts and a hinge rod extending between said posts through said. sleeve, a base plate secured to said body by said posts, and an upstanding member on said base plate forming a fixed stop engageable by the lateral surface of saidmovable stop member.

No references cited.

LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner. 

1. A KEY CONSTRUCTION FOR A MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENT OF THE TYPE HAVING A HOLLOW BODY WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY RADIALLY OPENING TONE HOLE THEREIN, COMPRISING A KEY INCLUDING A FINGER PIECE, AND ARM INTERCONNECTED WITH SAID FINGER-PIECE AND EXTENDING THEREFROM, A KEY CUP ON SAID ARM, AND A TONE HOLE CLOSURE MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID KEY CUP, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID KEY ON SAID BODY INTERMEDIATE SAID ARM AND SAID FINGER PIECE, SAID ARM, KEY CUP AND TONE HOLE CLOSURE MEMBER RISING TO HOLE OPENING POSITION UPON DEPRESSION OF SAID FINGER PIECE TOWARDS SAID BODY, A MOVABLE STOP MEMBER ON SAID KEY EXTENDING INWARDLY THEREFROM TOWARD SAID BODY AND HAVING A LATERAL 